My Genealogy Hound

REV. ALBAN RUDROFF, O. S. B.
Widely and favorably known in Union county is the Rev. Alban Rudroff, O. S. B., pastor of St. Edwards’ church of Afton. His birthplace was at Rich Fountain, Missouri, near St. Louis, and his natal year 1847. His early education was acquired under Jesuit direction and later with the Benedictines of Atchison, Kansas. He entered the order in 1866 and pursued a course of study at St. Vincent’s Abbey, in Pennsylvania. In 1871 he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Fink, of Leavenworth, Kansas.

Father Rudroff’s first missionary labors were in Kansas, whence he was transferred to North Carolina, later to Savannah, Georgia, and subsequently to Pennsylvania, where he served missions for four years. In 1884 he was sent to assist Father Lyons, pastor of St. Malachy’s, at Creston, Iowa, where he remained for two years, and also attended the missions of Afton, Thayer, Murray, Orient, Greenfield and other places. His next service was as assistant in the cathedral at Davenport and after a short stay there he was given two parishes by Bishop Cosgrove, one near Lacona and the other near Milo. Following a stay of two years in that work, he was again sent to Davenport and given the chaplaincy of Mercy hospital. Two years later he was appointed pastor of St. Peter’s church at Council Bluffs, and after serving this church he labored for one year in Colorado, and in 1894 returned to Union county to reside permanently at Afton. For four years he labored here, improving the church, purchasing lots and erecting a parsonage. He also attended the missions of Thayer, Orient and Greenfield, besides assisting at various times at St. Malachy’s. In 1898 he was assigned to and assumed the chaplaincy of Mercy hospital at Des Moines and two years later was again sent back to Afton, where he still presides. With the generous help of good people at both places, churches have been built at Orient and Greenfield. St. Mark’s at Orient now has a membership of fifteen families and St. Johns at Greenfield of eighteen families. St. Edwards’ church, at Afton, was erected in 1878 and has a membership of thirty families, drawn largely from the farming community. Thus briefly is recorded the life record and the faithfully performed duties of one whose aim is the uplifting of his fellowmen and who is accomplishing much good in the parishes where he labors, the work of the different churches being well systematized and carefully conducted.